Bert Pfiester – 4/23/11
President and CEO of Respite Care of San Antonio
A single parent of three children and leader of a non-profit organization serving children with special needs was not always where Bert Pfiester expected his life journey to take him. But what a difference following one’s heart can make.
After a 25 year career at AT&T, Pfiester found himself at a crossroads in 2001 when he decided it was time for a change. His last assignment was as the Director of External Affairs for the company, in which his duties included managing the company’s philanthropic activities. He had experienced the personal fulfillment of serving in various capacities as a volunteer with numerous non-profits and knew his second career would involve service to others. A six term chair of Texas Special Olympics, working to raise resources to serve athletes with special needs, certainly provided some insight.
Pfiester responded to the invitation to serve as the CEO of Respite Care of San Antonio three months after his retirement. The founder of the agency was relocating and wanted the agency to be in capable and loving hands. Little did he know at the time the new journey would indeed be life-changing.
Celebrating 23 years of service, Respite Care of San Antonio provides care to children with developmental disabilities and complex medical diagnoses. Numerous services are offered to provide parents temporary respite while providing educational and therapeutic supports to aid children in developing their capabilities. The agency also is the only in Texas providing specialized care to children with special needs in crisis who are victims of abuse and neglect and in the custody of the State. The Davidson Respite House, Najim Family Respite Home and the Tracy Wolff Respite Home serve as a safe haven for children in crisis.
Along the way, Pfiester saw the need for adults, even single adults like himself, to open home and hearts and serve as temporary foster parents of children in need. In 2004, Pfiester became the “temporary” Dad of three, ages 3, 4 and 5 years of age: two boys and a girl, from the same biological family. Fast forward to today, those three: Brian, Jennifer and Christopher are now “Pfiesters” after they became a forever family three years ago. Today, Pfiester, 53, is a single parent to twelve year old Christopher eleven year old Jennifer and ten year old Brian who he adopted in 2008. Even more so, the CEO is “family” to more than 300 individuals with special needs – newborns to 17 years old – who Respite Care serves each year.
He also serves as Vice President of the San Antonio Livestock Expo and is a member of the Silver and Black Give Back Foundation on behalf of the San Antonio Spurs.
Hosts,
Bjorn Dybdahl of Bjorn's
John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty
Scott Woolfolk of Documation
Sponsors
